Written by: Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, Illustrated by: Scott Magoon
Published by: Candlewick Press, April 3, 2018
ISBN: 978-1536203011
Plot Summary
Rescue & Jessica tells an adapted version of the real-life story of Boston Marathon bombing victim, Jessica Kensky, and her service dog, Rescue. The book says that Rescue came from a family of seeing-eye dogs, but his trainer thought he would be better suited as a service dog. This made Rescue worried because being a seeing-eye dog was the "family business". Rescue's story of training is intermingled with Jessica's story of learning to live with her new circumstances. In the book, Jessica is a young girl whose legs have been injured. Her left leg has to be amputated and she must re-learn how to do daily tasks. She is introduced to a service dog and after seeing how helpful one could be, applies for one of her own. Rescue and Jessica both celebrate when they are united and together, they learn how to move forward in their new lives.
Critical Analysis
The mirroring of Rescue and Jessica's journies at the beginning of the book is an effective tool to begin to set the stage for their connection later on in the book. Rescue's feelings of uncertainty will be easy for readers to connect to their own lives. Feeling different from your family or worrying that you won't measure up to your parents' expectations is a very universal experience. By sharing Rescue's feelings of worry alongside Jessica's, readers will realize that Jessica's feelings after her injury are similar to feelings that they have had and this will help them connect with her character and understand some of what she is going through.
The book does an excellent job of describing what Jessica is feeling about her new legs in ways that children can understand. In doing so, she can be seen as a whole person, and not just her disability. Rescue's own thoughts about Jessica help to enforce these feelings, as he describes her as nice, pretty, and amazing. This helps to break down stereotypes that children may have heard about people who are differently abled. When Rescue and Jessica meet, it is told from Rescue's point of view. He tells about how nervous he is to meet her and how he hopes that she won't notice his legs are shaking. There is no mention about Jessica's own recently amputated leg or her wheelchair.
The bright illustrations, which look like watercolors, are both beautiful and realistic. They show Jessica in her wheelchair, with a bandaged leg, and walking on her prosthetics. This is a great way to open up discussions for children about these devices and how they can help people. The story also talks about Rescue's special vests which he wears to identify himself as a service dog. In pointing out these vests, and including them in the illustrations, the book helps to show that many of us have special things that we wear that might make us look different.
Since the book is written by Jessica Kensky herself, she is intimately familiar with what it is like to be a double amputee and to have a service dog. It is important in literature about people who are differently-abled to ensure that the author is familiar with the current information on the subject. Since Kensky has first-hand knowledge of the ins and outs of daily life for someone who uses a wheelchair and prosthetics, one can be assured that the book's depiction of her life is accurate. It also gives insight to her own personal feelings and presents her as a whole person, rather than as a stereotype.
Awards Won
2019- Schneider Family Book Award Winner
Review Excerpt
From The Horn Book published April 16, 2018
"Spot art and full-page illustrations show the progress and challenges that bring their separate journeys together. The two form a powerful bond and work as a team to take care of each other. When Jessica's other leg must also be amputated, "Rescue knew just what to do to help Jessica, all on his own," and the art shows her holding him sleeping in her hospital bed. Together, they "had to start all over again." The quiet and stirring text pairs beautifully with the art, which uses color and white space to convey time, meaning, and emotion with great effect. An author's note explains that Rescue and Jessica's story is based on a real-life partnership, begun when Jessica Kensky was injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing (her husband, co-author Patrick Downes, also lost his leg in the bombing). In the main text, Jessica's injuries are not explained; the story instead focuses on the power and comfort that comes from her relationship with her service dog."
Connections
Invite a local service-dog trainer to come in and talk to students about what they do and teach them about service dogs (and perhaps bring in a service dog-in training).
Read an article about Jessica Kensky and Rescue and what their real lives are like. Here is one example, which has an in-depth look at their home: https://www.hgtv.com/design/design-blog/design/boston-marathon-survivors-accessible-condo-makes-everyone-feel-welcome
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